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Q&A with Stop Light Observations

Warming up the Ford stage on the last day (sobs) of SunFest is South Carolina act Stop Light Observations, affectionately called SLO.

The six-piece pack describes their style as “southern-retro-electro-rock,” which may sound like an earful, but I assure you it sounds good.

The band is led by lead singer Will Blackburn; songwriter, pianist and synth master John-Keith “Cubby” Culbreth; and Louis Duffie handles guitar, percussion, and some more synth (there’s never enough). Rounding out the group is drummer Luke Withers, bass/violinist Coleman Sawyer, and Wyatt Garey on lead guitar.

Their single “Smilers of the Night” is a gripping song, accompanied by an eerie video. This band doesn’t sound like they’ve only been around four years. Their maturity and mastery of blending genres is startling.

I’m thankful I had a chance to shoot Cubby a few questions before their Sunday set. Below, SLO shares how their sound translates to poetry, their song writing process, and what you can hear today.

What can SunFest fans expect to see and hear on Sunday?

Cubby: They can expect to see a celebration of life and the moment that brought SLO together with the new faces of Sunfest. They will hear the coming together of [multiple] friends laying down each others hearts. I believe it will be a great day.

We have been really emotionally preparing for this summers’ release of new music and shows, especially this one.

What’s the best part of having such a full band? What’s the most challenging aspect of touring with six bandmates?

The best part is the emotional, physical, and spiritual dynamic that can only occur with the exact amount of people that SLO makes up. Like a chemical compound, it takes this exact combination of people to create what you will see and hear. Having a bunch of people creates a family, and families have each others backs.

When we are all up on stage, we create a certain acceptance and confidence that allows us to lose ourselves. The downfalls is that we are like a family….and families are crazy as doodle lats da scotums.

Tell me more about your awesome name.

SLO, aka Stop Light Observations, stands for becoming the moment. To take it SLO and to relax and focus on the true meaning of life. There is so much more to life then the anxiety and fear filled culture we Americans especially live in. Life is to be celebrated and cherished.
Stoplights are the number one creation that forces people to stop, slow down, and observe life; hence Stop Light Observations.

Describe your band’s sound using poetry.

SLO sounds similar to something that speaks like nothing –
Nurses nebulas puffing pipes of life enlightened tumblings –
Down a hill spilling spikes of silver sites of earth crust crumblings –
Kids mumbling at the mother maiden of music rumbling –
Raking radical, religious, racists, or egotistical forgotten figures into love lusted humblings…..

Can you share a little more about your “Smilers of the Night” music video? It is dark and spellbinding.

The movie and song creates a dark atmosphere and ends in a glimpse of light and hope. The term smiler of the night refers to substance abusive culture America has become, and how we only see people smile at night. Yet, that smile is just a temporary mask.

What is your songwriting process like?

I write the lyrics and lick / progression then present it to the band. The band then adds their perspective of the story through their instrument and voice, and as a unit we create a coming together of something special. A sharing of art.

When are you happiest?

I am truly the happiest when I feel one with myself, what some call the infinite, some call the universe, God (whatever you want to call it, we are saying the same thing), but when you become one with yourself, you can become one with all things, and being all things lets you feel all feelings; especially happiness.